Washington, George (1732-1799) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08076 Author/Creator: Washington, George (1732-1799) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 April 1794 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23.1 x 20.1 cm. Order a Copy
Responds to a letter from Secretary of War Knox relating to the security of the Old Northwest. Comments on a speech by Lord Dorchester [Sir Guy Carleton], the commander in chief in British North America, and states his belief that the British intend "to keep this Country in a state of disquietude with the Indian nations; and also to alter the boundary between them and us, if, by any means, they can effect it." As a consequence of that belief, Washington reiterates his instructions to maintain good relations with the Six Nations and to "Buy Captn. [Joseph] B_t [Brant] off at almost any price." Brant was a Mohawk chief who allied with the British in the American Revolution and now functioned as an intermediary between the U.S., Britain, the Iroquois, and the tribes of the Northwest territory.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Philadelphia 4th Apl. 1794
Sir,
Your letter of this date, enclosing one from Captn. Williamson, is received. - I have never entertained any doubt myself of the genuiness of the Speech which is published as Lord Dorchester's; - nor of the intentions of the B- Government to keep this Country in a state of disquietude with the Indian Nations; and also to alter the boundary between them and us, if, by any means, they can effect it. -
For this reason, I repeat in this manner, what I have two or three times done before, verbally, that Genl Chapin should be instructed to leave no means unessayed to keep the Six Nations well disposed towards the U.S. - and to buy Captn. B-t off at almost any price - Captn. Williamson affords, I presume, a safe conveyance to him
Yrs. & ca.
Go: Washington
The Secy of War
[docket]
confidential V.V.V.
The President of the
United States.
5th April 1794 -
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